Amsterdam gem: Frenzi’s organic breakfast

Growing up, my sisters and I brought my mom breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day, as is tradition. Perhaps not-so-traditionally, I’d squeeze cold oranges for her morning juice, then drink the whole glass once delivered to her room.

Since I was traveling alone, I stopped and asked someone to take my photo.

One can only imagine my inner peace when, after years without, I drank a glass of cold, fresh-squeezed orange juice at Frenzi Restaurant after a disappointing three days in Amsterdam.

Looking forward to roaming the fairytale streets, crossing the romantic canals and meeting new people, I ended my winter vacation in Amsterdam, a decision I can’t foresee repeating.

However, despite my low spirits and disappointment, one bright moment stands out, that I highly recommend when in Amsterdam: breakfast at Frenzi.

Day three, while braving the storm and winds that turned my umbrella inside out, I walked past an adorable corner-restaurant called Frenzi. The sign read “breakfast special €7,50 served until 12.” I only continued walking until I saw the adjacent window paint: we believe in organic and fair trade. I turned right around and walked inside. Lucky for me, I still needed breakfast and it was 11:30.

I made the mistake of letting the storm keep me from taking a photo of the outside. Screenshot taken on GoogleMaps, March 3, 2017.

Not only a cozy escape from the storm, but Frenzi is also a retreat from the stale environment of travel. It felt like a piece of home, wherever that may be, with the dark tones, sleeping cat and rich atmosphere.

The woman working greeted me with a smile and invited me to take a seat. I settled into a small table by the window, with a view of a dancing canal and fluttering umbrellas.

I loved the message of the sleeping cat, local art and organic, fair trade foods and drinks.

When the waitress brought my breakfast, my excitement level exceeded a “normal” reaction to a bowl of yogurt and coffee. However, after eating oatmeal packets and grocery-store sandwiches for days, I felt true glee.

A juice snob with a lifelong dedication to fresh-squeezed, the cold orange juice accompanied the plate perfectly.

The juice paired well with a warm croissant with butter and fresh jam, and bowl of organic yogurt topped with muesli, dried fruit and nuts: a sight to this tired travellers’ eyes. The rich cup of coffee transported me into a place of transcended reality, as it wasn’t burned like every other cup I’d purchased in the city. Plus it came with biscotti.

My only complaint was that the orange juice could’ve been bigger.

Without further description, it’s clear Frenzi was a highlight. Perhaps it was a relief from the storm, perhaps my first real meal in days, or perhaps it really is everything I remember experiencing.

However, after filling up on healthy, sustainable breakfast, I found the courage to embrace the storm in search of the iconic I Amsterdam sign.